Excerpts from Flight to Freedom Program

Ajena Rogers, a descendant of James A. Fields and Drusilla Pair, Genealogy Researcher and Local Historian, will be presenting “Flight to Freedom” for the College of William and Mary's Lemon Project on Friday, March 15, 2013 at 6:00 PM. The event will be held at the Bruton Heights School in Williamsburg, VA. Here are some clips from their performance we did at Fort Monroe last August. Rogers and Pair will be presenting “Flight to Freedom” again May at Fort Monroe and again at the Hanover County, VA Tavern in November. We are extremely excited particularly about the tavern engagement because her ancestor Martha Fields worked there as a Cook when she was enslaved by the Winston family.

Flight to Freedom Program at Fort Monroe

Genealogist Drusilla Pair (left) and Fields descendant and Park Ranger Ajena Rogers  (right)  presented the "Flight to Freedom Program" at Fort Monroe on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

Flight to Freedom:  The Fields Family and Freedom's Fortress program was conducted at Fort Monroe on Saturday, August 11, 2012 with Ms. Drusilla Pair, genealogical researcher and Park Ranger, Ms. Ajena Rogers, historical interpreter and a Fields family descendant.  The program was a dramatic interpretation of the Fields family’s escape from enslavement in Hanover County, VA to freedom at Fort Monroe, VA during the Civil War.  

On August 12, 2012, The Virginian Pilot Newspaper published an article about the Flight to Freedom Program:  "Descendant Chronicles Life of Slave at Fort Monroe."  

 Drusilla Pair waiting for her cue.

Ajena Rogers portraying her ancestor, Martha Ann Berkeley Fields (1813-1891)

Flight to Freedom: The Fields Family and Freedom's Fortress, will be held twice on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM at the historic Fort Monroe by Ms. Drusilla Pair, a local family historian and Ms. Ajena C. Rogers, a descendant of James A. Fields.  Mr. Fields was a part of the first graduating class of Hampton Normal and Agricultural and Institute (now Hampton University) in 1871.  The event is free to the public.

For more information on the Flight to Freedom production, click here to visit this website.

James A. Fields Trading Card

The National Park Service has created a trading card for kids in honor of James A. Fields (1844-1903).  The trading card is part of a collection of other cards to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  Trading cards must be obtained in person from a participating park.  Click here for more information about trading cards.

Historical Marker for Gregory Cherry

A historical marker was dedicated in memory of Gregory Cherry (1955 - 2007) by the city of Newport News, VA in May 2010.  Cherry, a Newport News native and a history enthusiast, purchased the dilapidated Fields house in 2000 for $1 and then began restoring the house.

1900 Census - James A. Fields and Family

This is the 1900 census where James A. Fields was living at 617-27th in Newport News, VA, which is the current location  and address of the historic house named his honor.    In his household were his wife Carrie, and their four sons Sterling, Early, James A. Jr., and Lucius.  James A. Fields (Sr.) died three years later, on November 20, 1903.

Descendants of James A. Fields

Margaret Fields Johnson (sitting), a granddaughter of James A. Fields and Carrie Washington Fields, and her daughter, Margaret. The elder Margaret is the daughter of Dr. Sterling Fields who was the eldest son of James A. and Carrie Washington Fields. Mrs. Johnson’s mother was Katie Scott Fields who lived to be 109 years old.


Margaret Fields Johnson was born in 1914 at what is now the historic James A. Fields House in Newport News, VA. Her family moved from the house when she was very young. She is very pleased that her grandparent’s home remains in the community as a historic landmark and wonderful museum welcoming visitors to appreciate and learn about the many contributions of James A. Fields. Mrs. Johnson is most appreciative of the work of the late Gregory Cherry in restoring the house and for the dedication of his wife, Saundra Cherry in continuing the work of her late husband in preserving our rich American history.